Home is Where the Heart is
Written: Jan 07 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy Plastic, Colorful, Nice details, Easy Storage, Chunky Durable People.
Cons: Sharp edges, No Living Room Furniture!
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend this toy to anyone. It is fun, colorful and a pleasure to play with.
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| AmyKlees's Full Review: Little People Home Sweet Home |
This year (2001) my daughter celebrated her first Christmas. She is 11 months old, so the grandparents naturally asked me what she wanted for Christmas. "Little People" toys were the first thing that came to my mind. As a child, my sister and I spent hours playing with our assortment of "Little People" toys. Our "Little People" had their own plane, a garage, a farm, a boat, and of course their very own house. My mother bought my daugther the "Little People-Home Sweet Home" as one of her Christmas presents.
The "Little People-Home Sweet Home" is much different and updated from what I remembered of the home my "People" had. Of course, I hate to admit it, but that was almost 30 years ago. I would hope that our "People" would move up in the world and that they would deserve a new dwelling after all these years. But then... nostalgia gets in the way and says..."Awww it isn't the same!"
The "Little People-Home Sweet Home" is constructed of sturdy plastic. It is an adorable, little "two-story" home with white siding, a blue roof, pink windows and doors, and green "landscaping" beneath. The siding is embossed with sweet details; such as, a trellis, a bench/flower pot/watering can, a bird in a nest, and creeping ivy up the back. There is also a chimney and a balcony off the master bedroom! The two sides of the house are hinged together, so that the House can be opened for play or closed for easy storage. Hmmm? Wonder if I can move into this place!
When the house is opened up, you enter into the lives of our 3 "Little People!" On the left side of the home is the downstairs kitchen with an half-circle extension, which we pretend this is our Eat-in Kitchen area. It comes complete with a stocked refrigerator with a door that opens and shuts. Above the kitchen is a large Master bedroom with a little circular balcony. Only one person on the balcony at a time please! (Because that is all that will fit!) The bedroom has 2 large windows with dormers. On the right side, the bottom floor is our living room that has stairs that gently spiral up to a blue bathroom. The bathroom is equipped with a tub, sink and a toilet with a yellow seat that opens and shuts. The top floor of the right side is the nursery. It is more like an attic nursery. I think it would be a little cramped up there if you ask me! There is a large window opening in the nursery so you can reach in and grab things from this area. Doors open and close from each of the kitchen and living room areas. There are colorful stickers that add the finishing touches to the house; such as, rugs, night stands, wall paper boarders, shelves, food for the fridge, etc.
Our new Home comes furnished, of course. It is all made of plastic. It has a kitchen table and chairs, 2 single beds, a crib with changing table, a stroller, and a high chair. The crib can be rocked and the monitor on top makes various baby noises and plays music, when you supply the batteries. I was very surprised to discover our Home does not have furniture for the Living Room! I suppose they are just supposed to stand around. No couch potatoes in this house! I naturally was disappointed in that. We borrow the chairs in the kitchen and put them in the living room. I am also curious as to why the two single beds. I don't know many mommies and daddies that sleep in separate single beds anymore!
The Family in our house are three "Little People." A preppy-looking Daddy, a Mommy , and a little baby. They are chunky people made of durable plastic. Although there is some give in the plastic, because we all know children love to put things in their mouths and chew. The "People" have also changed from when I was a child. In the old days they were smaller and their heads moved. Plus their hair was a separate piece. My sister and I used to chew on the braids that extended off of one of the "People" way back when. I can see how all of that could have been very unsafe, and I am glad they changed the design of them. The ones today are much nicer, more colorful and much more easy for babies to pick up. There is no choking hazard in today's design.
Now for the KID TEST! My daughter just loves her "Little People-Home Sweet Home!" She will be a year old next week, and I have found it to be age appropriate for her. She doesn't "play house" like she will in a few years, but she loves moving the furniture and people around from room to room. She loves to sit with Mommy, so we can play pretend. She crawls and walks around holding on to the people. She loves chewing on them.. naturally. My daughter can not walk on her own yet. She pulls herself up on things and holds on when she walks. That caused a little problem with the House. She tried pulling herself up on the House and it became unsteady. She tipped over, it tipped over and she cut her forehead on one of its sharp edges. Yes, there was a lot of crying involved in that incident!
Finally the MOM TEST! Overall I have been very pleased with the "Little People-Home Sweet Home" I like that it has a latch to keep the house closed. I do wish that it had a handle on the top so that you could cart it around from room to room. When I was younger it had a handle, and the front door had a bell as well. My sister and I loved dinging that silly bell. There is no bell on this design. I love the new look for the "People" themselves. They are colorful, and much more realistic looking than in the past. I also am pleased with the new house design. It is taller, and seem to have more open space. Finally, I love that my daughter loves it! And isn't that what toys are all about.
I highly recommend the "Little People-Home Sweet Home." I know it will provide years of fun in our household. And remember...Home is Where the Heart is!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
AmyKlees
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Member: Amy Klees
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Reviews written: 46
Trusted by: 33 members
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